Quantitative Evaluation of Ion Kinetic Effect in Magnetic Field Inflation by the Injection of a Plasma Jet

Abstract

The steady state of dipolar magnetic field expansion is examined by injecting a plasma jet from the center of the dipolar magnetic field (magnetic inflation). Using a two-dimensional hybrid particle-in-cell (PIC) code taking into account the finite Larmor radius effect, we examine the magnetic field inflation process when Argon (Ar) plasma is injected into a dipole magnetic field generated by a simple hoop coil; the plasma is injected within an angle of 30° in the polar direction. Compared to ideal magneto hydrodynamics (MHD) results, the results obtained using the hybrid PIC code are more accurate since the finite ion Larmor radius effect decreases the flow of magnetic flux with respect to the flow of the plasma jet.